Apparatus for producing corrugated board

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is provided for producing longitudinally corrugated product. The apparatus includes a guide roll for guiding a web of medium material, wherein at least a portion of the guide roll is adapted to be arranged at an angle relative to another portion of the guide roll. The apparatus further includes a plurality of flute forming bars oriented generally along a longitudinal axis of the web to define a first corrugating labyrinth effective to longitudinally corrugate the web to an intermediate geometry. The apparatus further includes a pair of corrugating rollers that cooperate to define, at a nip therebetween, a second corrugating labyrinth effective to longitudinally corrugate the web to a substantially final geometry. The apparatus further includes a web travel pathway for the web that follows a path around a portion of the guide roll, through the first corrugating labyrinth, and through the second corrugating labyrinth.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/867,535 filed Aug. 13, 2010, which is a national stage filing of PCTApplication No. PCT/US09/37959 filed Mar. 23, 2009, which claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/038,513 filed Mar. 21,2008, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the production of corrugatedcardboard, and more particularly, to the production of longitudinallycorrugated cardboard.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Corrugated cardboard composite is used in a large number ofapplications. It is particularly desirable in packaging applicationsbecause it is rugged and has high dimensional and structural integrity.Corrugated boxes are used to package a variety of goods and are commonlystacked upon one another. The boxes must have sufficient stackingstrength to maintain their shape while supporting the stacked corrugatedboxes with goods stored therein. Therefore, corrugated boxes arecommonly constructed so as to utilize the strength of corrugated board.Corrugated board typically includes a corrugated medium affixed to atleast one liner, or alternatively, sandwiched between a top liner and abottom liner. Corrugated boxes constructed from corrugated board, withthe flutes oriented vertically, generally have sufficient stackingstrength.

Typically, corrugated cardboard is formed by producing a corrugatedsheet that is initially bonded along one side to a single face. Adhesiveis then applied to the crests of the flutes remote from the single faceby an applicator roll of a glue machine. Thereafter, a second face isapplied to the adhesive on the flutes to produce a composite structurein which corrugations extend between and are bonded to spaced-apartfaces.

In some instances, multiple-layer cardboard is produced in which morethan one corrugated sheet is adhesively attached to additional faces sothat, for example, a central flat face is bonded to a corrugated sheeton each side thereof, and outer flat faces are bonded to the sides ofthe two corrugated sheets remote from the central face. In anotherexample, the flutes of one corrugated sheet can be adhesively attachedto the flutes of another corrugated sheet.

Typically, a single face liner is a planar piece of paperboard while thecorrugated medium is a fluted piece of paperboard. Conventionally, thecorrugated medium is formed from a generally planar paperboard web thatis maintained under a tensile force and is continuously fed into acorrugating machine that forms the flutes. The planar paperboard web isgenerally fed into the corrugating machine with the paperboard fibersoriented in a longitudinal direction generally parallel to the webdirection. However, conventional corrugating machines generally form theflutes in a transverse direction relative to the longitudinal directionof the paperboard web. In other words, the flutes are formed in a“non-machine-direction” that is transverse to the fibers of thepaperboard. The “machine direction” is defined by the direction in whichfibers pass through the paper machine. Thus, flutes formed in a“non-machine direction” must re-orient the paper fibers, which can leadto reduced strength.

Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide a corrugating machinethat can form the flutes in the paperboard in the “machine direction”and generally parallel to the direction of the paper fibers (e.g.,linear or longitudinal fluting). Flutes formed longitudinally in the“machine direction” can provide a significant strength increase in theresulting corrugated board. Moreover, it would be beneficial to providea corrugating machine that can permit relatively quick adjustment of theflute sizes to provide various types of corrugated board.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order toprovide a basic understanding of some example aspects of the invention.This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. Moreover,this summary is not intended to identify critical elements of theinvention nor delineate the scope of the invention. The sole purpose ofthe summary is to present some concepts of the invention in simplifiedform as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presentedlater.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus forproducing a longitudinally corrugated product is provided. The apparatusincludes a guide roll for guiding a web of medium material, wherein atleast a portion of the guide roll is adapted to be arranged at an anglerelative to another portion of the guide roll such that a path length ofan edge portion of the web is shortened relative to a path length of acenter portion of the web after leaving the guide roll. The apparatusfurther includes a plurality of flute forming bars oriented generallyalong a longitudinal axis of the web to define a first corrugatinglabyrinth effective to longitudinally corrugate, to an intermediategeometry, the web of medium material that is drawn therethrough. Theapparatus further includes a pair of corrugating rollers that cooperateto define, at a nip therebetween, a second corrugating labyrinth betweenrespective and interlocking pluralities of corrugating teeth provided onthe corrugating rollers. The pluralities of corrugating teeth arearranged cylindrically along each of the rollers, wherein saidinterlocking pluralities of corrugating teeth are effective tolongitudinally corrugate, to a substantially final geometry, the web ofmedium material that is drawn through said nip on rotation of thecorrugating rollers. The apparatus further includes a web travel pathwayfor the medium material that follows a path around a portion of an outercircumferential surface of the guide roll, through the first corrugatinglabyrinth, and through the second corrugating labyrinth.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an apparatusfor producing a longitudinally corrugated product. The apparatusincludes a guide roll for guiding a web of medium material, wherein atleast a portion of the guide roll is adapted to be arranged at an anglerelative to another portion of the guide roll such that an edge portionof the web is moved relatively closer to a web centerline after leavingthe guide roll to thereby shorten a path length of the edge portion. Theapparatus further includes a plurality of flute forming bars orientedgenerally along a longitudinal axis of the web, including an upper setof flute forming bars disposed above the web of medium material and alower set of flute forming bars disposed below the web of mediummaterial. The upper and lower sets of flute forming bars areinterdigitated so as to define a first corrugating labyrinth effectiveto longitudinally corrugate, to an intermediate geometry, the web ofmedium material that is drawn therethrough. The flute forming bars arepivotable to individually adjust an angle of each of the flute formingbars relative to the centerline of the web to thereby form a fan ofadjustable width. The apparatus further includes a pair of corrugatingrollers that cooperate to define, at a nip therebetween, a secondcorrugating labyrinth between respective and interlocking pluralities ofcorrugating teeth provided on the corrugating rollers. The pluralitiesof corrugating teeth are arranged cylindrically along each of therollers, wherein said interlocking pluralities of corrugating teeth areeffective to longitudinally corrugate, to a substantially finalgeometry, the web of medium material that is drawn through said nip onrotation of the corrugating rollers. The apparatus further includes aweb travel pathway for the medium material that follows a path around aportion of an outer circumferential surface of the guide roll, throughthe first corrugating labyrinth, and through the second corrugatinglabyrinth.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an apparatusfor producing a longitudinally corrugated product. The apparatusincludes a guide roll for guiding a web of medium material definingfirst width, wherein at least a portion of the guide roll is adapted tobe arranged at an angle relative to another portion of the guide rollsuch that the width of the web is reduced to a second width afterleaving the guide roll. The apparatus further includes a plurality offlute forming bars oriented generally along a longitudinal axis of theweb, including an upper set of flute forming bars disposed above the webof medium material and a lower set of flute forming bars disposed belowthe web of medium material. The upper and lower sets of flute formingbars are interdigitated so as to define a first corrugating labyrintheffective to longitudinally corrugate, to an intermediate geometry, theweb of medium material that is drawn therethrough. The flute formingbars are pivotally coupled, at an exit end thereof, to a support framesuch that the flute forming bars are movable laterally, at an entranceend thereof, to individually adjust an angle of each of the fluteforming bars relative to the centerline of the web to thereby form a fanof adjustable width adapted to be substantially equal to, at theentrance end, the second width. The apparatus further includes a pair ofcorrugating rollers that cooperate to define, at a nip therebetween, asecond corrugating labyrinth between respective and interlockingpluralities of corrugating teeth provided on the corrugating rollers.The pluralities of corrugating teeth are arranged cylindrically alongeach of the rollers, wherein said interlocking pluralities ofcorrugating teeth are effective to longitudinally corrugate, to asubstantially final geometry, the web of medium material that is drawnthrough said nip on rotation of the corrugating rollers. The apparatusfurther includes a web travel pathway for the medium material thatfollows a path around a portion of an outer circumferential surface ofthe guide roll, through the first corrugating labyrinth, and through thesecond corrugating labyrinth.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description present example and explanatoryembodiments of the invention, and are intended to provide an overview orframework for understanding the nature and character of the invention asit is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide afurther understanding of the invention and are incorporated into andconstitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate variousexample embodiments of the invention, and together with the description,serve to explain the principles and operations of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other aspects of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art to which the present inventionrelates upon reading the following description with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the apparatus for producing a longitudinallycorrugated product according to aspects of the present application;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is a top view of an example guide roll;

FIG. 3B is an alternate arrangement of the guide roll of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an example segmented forming device;

FIG. 5 is a partial detail view of an example plurality of flute formingbars of the segmented forming device of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an example forming bar taken along line6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the example segmented forming device of FIG. 4in a first arrangement;

FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 7, but shows the segmented forming device in asecond arrangement;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the segmented forming device of FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 partial sectional view of a portion of the segmented formingdevice taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a partial detail view of an example corrugating roller ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an example fixed forming device;

FIG. 13 is a partial sectional view of the fixed forming device takenalong line 13-13 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a schematic view of an example arrangement for forming anexample multi-layer corrugated panel;

FIG. 15 is a partial side view of an example multi-layer corrugatedpanel that includes a flute-to-flute bond structure; and

FIG. 16 is a partial side view of another example multi-layer corrugatedpanel that includes a cross flute, double wall design.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Example embodiments that incorporate one or more aspects of the presentinvention are described and illustrated in the drawings. Theseillustrated examples are not intended to be a limitation on the presentinvention. For example, one or more aspects of the present invention canbe utilized in other embodiments and even other types of devices.Moreover, certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and isnot to be taken as a limitation on the present invention. Still further,in the drawings, the same reference numerals are employed fordesignating the same elements.

As used herein, the term “web” refers to a sheet of material travelingthrough the apparatus, and particularly as it travels through variouscorrugating labyrinths as will be further described. Also as usedherein, the terms “glue” and “adhesive” are used interchangeably, andrefer to the adhesive that is applied to the flute crests of acorrugated sheet as hereinafter described. Any glue applied to anyportion of the web can be applied using various methods known by one ofskill in the art.

Herein, all apparatus elements or members are considered to be rigid,substantially inelastic elements or members under the forces encounteredthereby. All such elements or members can be made using conventionalmaterials in a conventional manner as will be apparent to persons ofordinary skill in the art based on the present disclosure. Further, theapparatus can include various other elements or can even be a part of alarger manufacturing operation known to one of skill in the art, such asdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,068,701, 6,602,546, and 7,267,153, thecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

Turning to the shown example of FIGS. 1-2, an example apparatus 20 forproducing longitudinally corrugated board is shown. It should beunderstood that the illustrated apparatus 20 is shown only by way ofexample and that the present application can be applied to manydifferent types of machines. As discussed herein, the corrugated medium22 is paperboard that includes a plurality of fibers. A majority of thefibers define an elongated shape and are oriented in a generallyparallel fashion. The direction in which the majority of the fibers areoriented defines the machine direction “D” of the corrugated medium 22.Herein, the “machine direction” is defined by the direction in whichfibers pass through the paper machine. Likewise, the“non-machine-direction” is defined as the direction transverse to the“machine direction” (i.e., transverse to the fibers of the paperboard).As will be described more fully herein, the flutes produced by theapparatus 20 are formed generally parallel to the machine direction “D”.Likewise, a face sheet (not shown) or the like applied to the flutes canbe paperboard and be similarly applied a direction that is substantiallyparallel to the machine direction “D” of the corrugated medium 22. Forbrevity, the formed flute geometry is not illustrated in FIG. 1.

The apparatus 20 generally includes a guide roll 24 for guiding the webof medium material (i.e., paperboard), a segmented forming deviceincluding plurality of flute forming bars 26 that define a firstcorrugating labyrinth 29 (see FIG. 5), and a pair of corrugating rollers28, 30 that define a second corrugating labyrinth 31. One example webtravel pathway for the medium material 22 follows a path around aportion of an outer circumferential surface of the guide roll 24,through the first corrugating labyrinth 29 of the flute forming bars 26,and through the second corrugating labyrinth of the pair of corrugatingrollers 28, 30. Still, the elements can be arranged variously to alterthe web travel pathway, and more or less elements can be utilized.

For example, as shown, the guide roll 24 can be preceded by variouselements, such as one or more idler rollers 32 or the like adapted tocarry the web 22 onto the guide roller 24. In the shown example, theidler roller 32 can be an fluid flotation idler roller 32 that can use acushion of fluid, such as air or steam, to reduce, such as eliminate,friction between the web 22 and the idler roller 32.

The guide roll 24 can be adapted to carry the web 22 into the fluteforming bars 26 to longitudinally corrugate the web 22. A portion of theguide roll 24 can be adapted to be arranged at an angle relative toanother portion of the guide roll 24 such that a path length of an edgeportion 34 of the web 22 is shortened relative to a path length of acenter portion 36 of the web after leaving the guide roll 24. Alongitudinally-directed tension is applied to the web 22 to draw the web22 through the apparatus 20, such as by operation of one or more of therollers 24, 28, 30, 32, etc. It can be desirable to apply the tensiongenerally constantly across the width of the web 22 to avoid damage tothe web 22. For example, stressing the web 22 differently (i.e.,non-uniformly) in the non-machine direction (i.e., transversely) cancause damage to the paper fibers, wrinkling, buckling, and/or canotherwise stress the paper fibers and reduce the strength thereof.

However, because the web 22 is to be linearly corrugated via theformation of longitudinally oriented flutes, an overall width of the web22 will gradually decrease from an initial non-corrugated width. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 1, a width of the web 22 will graduallydecrease as it passes through the longitudinal forming bars 26 from anentrance end 38 to an exit end 40 thereof. Thus, to facilitateapplication of the tension generally constantly across the width of theweb 22 in the non-machine direction, it can be beneficial to adjust aportion of the web 22 relative to another portion of the web 22 suchthat a path length thereof, between the guide roll 24 and the entranceend 38 of the longitudinal forming bars 26, is substantially equal.Where the path lengths of each portion of the web 22 are substantiallyequal, the tension across the web 22 should be generally constant.

Thus, for example, an outer portion of the guide roll 24 can be adaptedto be arranged at an angle relative to a central portion of the guideroll 24 such that the path length of an edge portion 34 of the web 22 isshortened relative to a path length of a center portion 36 of the webafter leaving the guide roll 24. The angle of the outer portion of theguide roll 24, relative to the central portion, can be chosen such thatthe path length of the web of the edge portion 34 is substantially equalto the path length of the center portion 36 of the web after leaving theguide roll 24. Thus, the web 22 can have a first width upon encounteringthe guide roll 24 that is thereby reduced to a second width afterleaving the guide roll 24.

The guide roll 24 can include at least one element, such as a bowed orcurved roll (i.e., a banana roll or the like, not shown) such that oneportion of the guide roll 24 is arranged at an angle relative to anotherportion of the guide roll. The single guide roll 24 can be a fixedunitary body, or can even include one portion adjustably movablerelative to another portion. In another example, as shown in FIGS.3A-3B, the guide roll 24A can include at least a first segment 42Adefining a first longitudinal axis 44A coupled to an end of a secondsegment 46A defining a second longitudinal axis 48A. In FIG. 3A, thefirst axis 44A is substantially coaxial with the second axis 48A. Thefirst and second segments 42A, 46A can be pivotally coupled to eachother at their respective ends such that the guide roll 24A can bepivoted at the center. As shown in FIG. 3B, at least one of the firstand second segments 42B, 46B can be movable relative to the other of thefirst and second segments 42B, 46B such that the first axis 44B isoriented at an angle relative to the second axis 48B. Each of the firstand second segments 42B, 46B can be movable relative to each other, withthe first axis 44B being pivotable to a first angle relative to thecenterline of the web and the second axis 48B being pivotable to asecond angle substantially equal and opposite the first angle.

The ends of each segment 42B, 46B can be geared together so that thepivot angle of the drive side of the bar segment is duplicated by theoperator side. For example, if the drive side of the guide roll ispivoted 0.5 degrees toward the flute forming bars 26 (i.e., towards thedownstream end), the operator side is also pivoted 0.5 degrees towardthe flute forming bars 26. Similarly, if the drive side of the guideroll is pivoted 0.5 degrees away from the flute forming bars 26, theoperator side is also pivoted 0.5 degrees away from the fixed fluteforming bars 26.

Thus, the multi-segment guide roll 24 can take the edge 34 of the weband direct it at a slight angle to thereby change the length of the edge34 of the web. Thus, when the web arrives at the flute forming bars 26,the web edge 34 will be properly positioned and tensioned withoutexcessively straining the web 22. There can be many variables, such asbar diameter, sheet width, and/or the distance from the flute formingbars 26 to a downstream element, such as the corrugating rollers 28, 30,that can determine the angle of the guide roll 24. For the instantexample, the bar angle can be 0.9 degrees relative to the web 22, thoughother values can also be used. Thus, after wrapping the paperboard webaround a portion of the guide roll 24, such as 180 degrees, thepaperboard web departs toward the flute forming bars 26 at an angle ofapproximately 1.8 degrees (i.e., 2×0.9 degrees). As a result, the edges34 of the paperboard web 22 are relatively closer to the corrugatingrollers 28, 30 than the center 36 as the paperboard web 22 leaves theguide roll 24 to provide proper edge tension for flute formation.

In addition or alternatively, the guide roll 24 can be a zero-contactroll being operable to support the web of medium material at a variableheight above its outer circumferential surface on a cushion of fluid(i.e., air or steam) that is emitted through openings 47 provided overand through the outer circumferential surface of the guide roll 24.Various numbers of openings 47 can be arranged variously, and areillustrated schematically. Either or both of the segments 42A, 46A caninclude the openings for the fluid. The air cushion reduces, such aseliminates, sliding friction. In addition or alternatively, themulti-segment guide roll 24 can act as a web storage device to make upfor web path length changes caused by manufacturing tolerances or thelike.

The zero-contact roll described can be a stationary roll that does notrotate as the web of medium material traverses its circumferentialsurface. Instead, a volumetric flowrate of air at a controlled pressureis pumped from within the roll 24 radially outward through smallopenings or holes provided periodically and uniformly over and throughthe outer circumferential wall of the roll. The result is that thepassing web of medium material 22 is supported above the circumferentialsurface of the zero-contact roll 24 by a cushion of air. The necessarypressure of air to support the passing web of medium material 22 abovethe zero-contact roll 24 surface is governed by the equation: P=T/Rwhere P is the required air pressure (in psi), T is the tension (meantension) in the traveling medium material web (in pounds per lineal inchor ‘pli’), and R is the radius of the zero-contact roll 24 (in inches).

The nominal height above the circumferential surface of the roll 24 forthe traveling web 22 is proportional to the volumetric flowrate of theair that is flowing through the openings in the circumferential surface.In a desirable mode of operation, the air volumetric flowrate isselected to achieve a nominal height for the web 22 (also correspondingto the height of the air cushion) of, e.g., 0.2-0.5 inch above thecircumferential surface of the roll 24 depending on its radius, which istypically 4-6 inches. Alternatively, the flowrate can be selected toachieve a lower nominal height, for example 0.025-0.1 inches off thecircumferential surface of the roll 24.

In addition or alternatively, the zero-contact roll 24 can also providean elegant mechanism for providing feedback control for the mean webtension. For example, an active or passive pressure transducer (notshown) can be used to detect the pressure in the air cushion that issupporting the web 22 over the surface of the zero-contact roll 24.Because air cushion pressure and web tension are related according tothe relation P=T/R as noted above, monitoring the air cushion pressure,P, provides a real-time measure of the tension in the web 22. Forexample, if the radius of the roll 24 is fixed at 6 inches, and the aircushion pressure is measured at 0.66 psi, then one knows the tension inthe web at that moment is 4 pli. As will be apparent, the real-time webtension data that can be inferred from measuring the pressure of the aircushion can be used in a feedback control loop to regulate the operationof the apparatus 20.

Herein, “zero-contact roll” refers to a roll having the above structure,adapted to support a web of material passing over the roll on a cushionof fluid, such as air, that is emitted through holes or openingsprovided over and through the outer circumferential surface of the roll.It is not meant to imply there can never be any contact (i.e. literally“zero” contact) between the zero-contact roll and the web. Such contactmay occur, for example, due to transient or momentary fluctuations inmean web tension.

Moving downstream, the plurality of flute forming bars 26 define asegmented forming device. The plurality of flute forming bars 26 areoriented generally along a longitudinal axis of the web 22 to define afirst corrugating labyrinth 29 effective to longitudinally corrugate, toan intermediate geometry, the web of medium material that is drawntherethrough. That is, while the plurality of flute forming bars 26 docorrugate the web medium, another downstream structure can finalize thecorrugation geometry, such as the corrugating rolls 28, 30. Still, it ispossible to utilize the flute forming bars 26 to produce the finalizedcorrugation geometry.

In the shown example, the segmented forming device includes two sets ofrelatively small forming bars that can be pivotally mounted in a frame.The plurality of flute forming bars 26 include an upper set 50 of fluteforming bars disposed above the web of medium material 22, and a lowerset 52 of flute forming bars disposed below the web of medium material22. As shown in FIGS. 4-5, the upper and lower sets 50, 52 of fluteforming bars can be interdigitated so as to define the first corrugatinglabyrinth 29.

Turning briefly to FIG. 6, an example forming bar 54 of the plurality offlute forming bars 26 is illustrated in further sectional detail. It isto be understood that the following example can generally represent theplurality of flute forming bars 26, including both the upper and lowersets 50, 52, though some or all of the bars 26 can be different. Theexample forming bar 54 can include a main bar 56 supporting acorrugation bar 58 thereupon. The corrugation bar 58 can be coupled tothe main bar 56 in various manners, including fasteners, adhesives,welding, and/or can even be formed therewith. Some or all of thecorrugation bars 58 can extend partially or even completely along thelongitudinal length of each forming bar 54. The main bar 56 and/or thecorrugation bar 58 can have a generally hollow interior 60, 62,respectively, though either or both can also be generally solid. Forexample, the plurality of flute forming bars 26 can be extruded or gundrilled to provide the internal hollowed areas 60, 62 that can serve asa distribution manifold for the fluid injected through holes 70 actingas a lubricant in order reduce the frictional forces. In one example,the main bar 56 can include an end cap 64 or the like (see FIG. 5),and/or the corrugation bar 58 can include similar structure. The hollowinteriors 60, 62 can be in fluid communication, such as through aninternal portal 66 to permit a pressurized fluid, such as air or steam,to be delivered therebetween as will be discussed more fully.

The corrugation bar 58 is the portion that forms the longitudinal flutesin the web 22 passing through the first corrugating labyrinth 29. Tothat end, an upper portion of the corrugation bar 58 can include agenerally rounded surface portion 68 for contact with the web 22.Turning briefly back to FIG. 5, the upper and lower sets 50, 52 of fluteforming bars can be interdigitated so as to define the first corrugatinglabyrinth 29. That is, the generally rounded surface portion 68 ofadjacent ones of the corrugation bars 58 of the upper and lower sets 50,52 can be interlocked or intermeshed to define the first corrugatinglabyrinth 29, extending along the transverse length of the plurality offlute forming bars 26. In effect, the paperboard web 22 passing throughthe first labyrinth will alternatively pass over and under adjacent onesof the corrugation bars 58 to form the flutes.

A portion of the plurality of flute forming bars 26, such as all of thebars, include a surface adapted to contact the web of medium material,such as the generally rounded surface portion 68. The surface caninclude an anti-friction surface feature to thereby reduce thefrictional forces on the web 22 as it is passing through the firstcorrugating labyrinth 29. In one example, a portion of the flute formingbars 26 can be zero-contact bars being operable to support said web ofmedium material 22 at a variable height thereabove on a cushion of airthat is emitted through openings 70 provided over and through an outersurface 68 of the portion of the flute forming bars 26. Each surfaceportion 68 can include a plurality of openings 70 arranged variouslythereon that can extend partially or completely along the length of arespective corrugation bar 58. Various numbers of openings 70 can bearranged variously, and only a portion are illustrated schematically.

Pressurized fluid, such as air, is delivered to a connector 72 or otherdelivery structure sealingly coupled to a portion of each individualforming bar 54. In one example, the connector 72 can be coupled to themain bar 56, though it can also be coupled to the corrugation bar 58. Asshown, the connector 72 is coupled to the main bar 56 and the fluid istransferred to the surface 68 of the corrugation bar 58 via the portal66. The connectors 72 of the various bars 58 can be directly (e.g.,through a hose or the like) or indirectly (e.g., through a manifold orthe like) to a fluid supply 74, in a serial or parallel configuration.The pressurized air then exits the corrugation bar 58 through the seriesof holes 70 spaced along the length of the rod 54 to provide the cushionof air for the paperboard web 22 to float on. The cushion of airprovides air greasing (i.e., lubrication) that can reduce, such aseliminate, sliding frictional contact between the web 22 and the fluteforming surface 68.

As with the guide roll 24, a volumetric flowrate of air at a controlledpressure is pumped from within each forming bar 54 radially outwardthrough the small openings 70 or holes provided periodically anduniformly over and through the outer circumferential surface 68 of thecorrugation bar 58. The result is that the passing web of mediummaterial 22 is supported above the surface 68 by a cushion of air. Alsoas before, the zero-contact corrugation bar 58 can also provide anelegant mechanism for providing feedback control for the mean webtension via an active or passive pressure transducer (not shown) thatcan be used to detect the pressure in the air cushion. Because aircushion pressure and web tension are related according to the relationP=T/R as noted above, monitoring the air cushion pressure, P, provides areal-time measure of the tension in the web. Again, “zero-contact” isnot meant to imply there can never be any contact (i.e. literally “zero”contact) between the zero-contact bars 58 and the web, such as mayoccur, for example, due to transient or momentary fluctuations in meanweb tension.

In addition or alternatively, the anti-friction surface feature of thesurface portion 68 can include various other structure. In one example,surface portion 68 can be polished or electro polished in order reducethe frictional forces on the paper as it is passing through the firstcorrugating labyrinth 29. In another example, the surface portion 68 canbe coated with a release or antifriction coating such as Teflon orsimilar in order reduce the frictional forces. In still another example,the surface portion 68 can be treated to create a hard surface coatingsuch as provided by black oxide conversion coating, anodizing, flamespraying, deposition coatings, ceramic coating, chrome plating, or othersimilar surface treatments in order reduce the frictional forces.

For the following discussion, the standard flute size take-up factorswill be used: Size A=1.56; size C=1.48; size B=1.36; size E=1.28; sizeF=1.19; and size N=1.15. However, it is to be appreciated that variousother flute sizes can also be used. The following example will bediscussed with reference to a standard “A” size flute take-up factor of1.56 with a final paper width of 50 inches. Thus, the paper startingwidth is 78 inches (i.e., 50 inches×1.56), and each edge of the papermust move inwards towards the center approximately 14 inches (i.e., (78inches−50 inches)/2) in order to properly form the flutes. Still, it isto be appreciated that various other web widths and/or take-up factorscan also be used.

In order to condense the paperboard web 22 to achieve a desired take-upfactors (e.g., to reduce the paperboard width from 78 inches to 50inches or other desired width), the upper and lower sets of bars 50, 52are brought gradually closer to each other symmetrically about the webcenterline 25 so that each corrugation bar 58 causes the web to begin toform a large sinusoidal shape as the web floats frictionlessly over thebar surface 68. The forming bars 54 are angled relative to each otherwith the entrance end 38 of the bars 56 being relatively farther apartfrom each other than the exit end 40 of the bars 56. As a result, thecomplete sinusoidal shape of the flutes can develop gradually as the webtravels down the length of the forming bars 54 so that abrupt tensionchanges in the web are reduced or eliminated as it is condensed inward.

The plurality of flute forming bars 26 can be adjusted so that anyportion of the paper web 22 passing through the first corrugatinglabyrinth 29 is only curved over or around the radius of the generallyrounded surface portion 68 of the corrugation bar 58, or at a maximumthe next adjacent bar 58 to it, that the paper web starts on in order toreduce, such as minimize, the stress on the paper fibers. Thus, thepaper web 22 is generally only bent once per flute as it travels throughthe first corrugating labyrinth 29, and such a partial bend shouldreduce damage, such as breakage, of the paper fibers.

Each set of forming bars is mounted in an adjustable framework thatallows the individual bars to pivot in an accordion or fan-fold patternso that the paperboard web is maintained generally parallel to theforming bars. Moreover, the adjustability of the segmented formingdevice permits various take-up ratios to be used for different flutesizes.

As shown in FIGS. 4-7, each of the forming bars 54 can be individually,pivotally fixed, such as at the exit end. Thus, each forming bar 54 canpivot independently of the other forming bars 54. In the shown example,each of the flute forming bars 54 are pivotally coupled, at an exit end40 thereof, to a support frame 76, 78 such that the flute forming barsare movable laterally (i.e., non-machine-direction), at an entrance end38 thereof, to individually adjust an angle of each of the flute formingbars 54 relative to the centerline 25 of the web to thereby form a fanof adjustable width. Each of the upper and lower sets 50, 52 can haveseparate support frames 76, 78 or can utilize a single support frame.Each of the forming bars 54 can be individually coupled to one of thesupport frames 76, 78 in various manners. In one example, as shown inFIG. 5, each forming bar 54 can include a pin 80, clevis, or otherpivoting structure coupled to the main bar 56 and in pivotal engagementwith a support frame 76, 78. Although described herein with reference tothe bars 54 being pivotally coupled to the exit end, the oppositeconfiguration can be utilized to pivotally couple the bars 54 about theentrance end and adjust the angle of the bars about the exit endthereof.

FIGS. 7-8 illustrate two extreme examples of the adjustable width of thefan-like structure of the flute forming bars 54. As shown in FIG. 7, theentrance end 38 of the plurality of flute forming bars 26 has a firstwidth L₁ that is arranged in the substantially narrowest position. Thatis, the first width L₁ illustrates the narrowest width of the entranceend 38 in the instant example. The exit end 40 of the plurality of fluteforming bars 26 has a second width L₂. The second width L₂ illustratesthe substantially final width of the web 22 upon exit from the firstcorrugating labyrinth 29. Turning to FIG. 8, the entrance end 38 of theplurality of flute forming bars 26 is now illustrated with a third widthL₃ that is arranged in the substantially widest position. That is, thethird width L₃ illustrates the widest width of the entrance end 38 inthe instant example. However, because the plurality of flute formingbars 26 are pivotally fixed to the support frames 76, 78 about the exitend 40, the second width L₂ will remain substantially equal between thetwo extreme examples illustrated in FIGS. 7-8. Thus, while the web 22can have various beginning widths, and the width of the entrance end 38can be adjusted accordingly, the final width of the web 22 upon exitfrom the first corrugating labyrinth 29 can always be substantiallyequal to the second width L₂. It is to be understood that the twoextreme examples illustrated in FIGS. 7-8 are illustrated as extremeexamples, and the width of the entrance end 38 can be infinitelyadjusted to any desired width therebetween. Still, though described ashaving one fixed width and one adjustable width end, it is to beunderstood that the width of each end 38, 40 of the segmented formingdevice can be configured to be separately and individually adjusted.

The forming bars 54 can include various structures for varying the widthof the adjustable fan to a desired width between the two extremeexamples illustrated in FIGS. 7-8. In one example, some or all of theforming bars 54 each include a guide track 82 that are coupled to camrollers 84 of an adjusting framework for permitting the angularadjustment of the forming bars 54 to provide the fan-like or accordioneffect as the cam rollers 84 travel back and forth along the guidetracks 82. As shown, the guide tracks 82 can be disposed generallymidway along the length of the forming bars 54, though can also bedisposed elsewhere or can even extend along substantially the entirelength of the bars 54. Some or all of the cam rollers 84 can be coupledto an associated guide track 82 by a linear slide or the like. The camrollers 84 can include rotatable structure to reduce, such as minimize,frictional contact with the guide tracks 82. In addition oralternatively, though described as cam “rollers” 84, the cams 84 caninclude static, non-rotational structure that may or may not includefriction-reducing surface features, such as any described herein. Theguide tracks 82 and cam rollers 84 can be a part of the adjustingframework. A single adjusting framework can be utilized to adjust bothof the upper and lower sets 50, 52 of forming bars 54, or as shown inFIGS. 9-10, dual adjusting frameworks can be used to separately adjustthe upper and lower sets 50, 52.

Turning now to FIGS. 9-10, a plurality of upper guide tracks 82A can beeach coupled to a respective one of the upper set 50 of flute formingbars 54. An upper framework 86 can extend laterally across at least aportion of the upper set 50 of flute forming bars 54 and can include aplurality of cams 84, such as stationary cams or even roller cams or thelike, coupled thereto that are each arranged to be received within atleast one upper guide track 82A. The cams 84 can be arranged variously,such as in an array or the like extending across the upper framework 86that corresponds generally to the spacing of the plurality of upperguide tracks 82A. Thus, each roller cam 84 can be adapted to slide alongthe length of an associated upper guide track 82A. For brevity, onlyoperation of the upper framework 86 is discussed herein with theunderstanding that the lower framework 88 can similarly operate.

The upper framework 86 can be movable along the longitudinal axis of theweb 22, relative to the upper set of flute forming bars 54, between atleast a first position located relatively closer to the entrance end 38(i.e., corresponding to the first width L₁ of FIG. 7) and a secondposition located relatively closer to the exit end 40 (i.e.,corresponding to the first width L₃ of FIG. 8). It is to be understoodthat the two extreme examples illustrated in FIGS. 7-8 are illustratedas extreme examples, and that the upper framework 86 can belongitudinally movable therebetween to infinitely adjust the width ofthe entrance end 38 to any desired width.

In the shown example, because the cams 84 are arranged in a generallyfixed array on the upper framework 86, the cams 84 are not displaceablerelative to the upper framework 86. That is, each cam 84 maintains afixed distance relative to an adjacent cam 84. However, as describedabove, each of the forming bars 54 are pivotally coupled at the exit end40 to the support frame 76. As a result, movement of the upper framework86 along the longitudinal axis of the web 22 causes each of the cams 84to apply a lateral force to each of the forming bars via the upper guidetracks 82A to thereby. Specifically, each individual forming bar 54 islaterally movable (i.e., non-machine-direction) a distance necessary tomaintain an associated cam 84 within an associated upper guide track 82Ato individually adjust an angle of each of the flute forming bars 54relative to the centerline 25 of the web to thereby adjust the width ofthe fan. In other words, each individual forming bar 54 is forced topivot at the exit end 40, and move laterally at the entrance end 38,until a distance between adjacent upper guide tracks 82A issubstantially equal to the fixed distance between adjacent cams 84.

Thus, movement of the upper framework 86 towards the first position(i.e., FIG. 7) causes the upper set 50 of flute forming bars 54 to pivotgenerally towards the centerline 25 of the web 22 to thereby reduce thewidth of the fan (i.e., towards first width L₁). Similarly, movement ofthe upper framework 86 towards the second position (i.e., FIG. 8) causesthe upper set 50 of flute forming bars 54 to pivot generally away fromthe centerline 25 of the web 22 to thereby increase the width of the fan(i.e., towards third width L₃).

Likewise, a plurality of lower guide tracks 82B can be each coupled to arespective one of the lower set 52 of flute forming bars 54. Forbrevity, only the upper framework 86 and associated structure isillustrated in FIG. 10, though it is to be understood that the lowerframework 88 can include similar structure. That is, the lower framework88 can extend laterally across at least a portion of the upper set 50 offlute forming bars 54, and can include a plurality of cams (not shown),such as stationary cams or even roller cams or the like, coupled theretothat are each arranged to be received within at least one lower track82B.

The upper framework 86 can be movable along the longitudinal axis of theweb 22, relative to the upper set of flute forming bars 54, between atleast a first position located relatively closer to the entrance end 38(i.e., corresponding to the first width L₁ of FIG. 7) and a secondposition located relatively closer to the exit end 40 (i.e.,corresponding to the first width L₃ of FIG. 8), though is alsolongitudinally movable therebetween to infinitely adjust the width ofthe entrance end 38 to any desired width. As described above, each ofthe upper and lower frameworks 86, 88 can separately and independentlyadjust the width of the upper and lower sets 50, 52 of forming bars 54.In another example, the lower framework 88 can be operatively coupled tothe upper framework 86, such as by various direct or indirect links 90(shown schematically in FIG. 4) so as to be movable together therewithbetween the first and second positions of FIGS. 7-8. For example,movement of the upper framework 86 towards the second position cancause, via the link 90, both of the upper and lower sets 50, 52 of fluteforming bars 54 to pivot generally away from the centerline 25 of theweb 22 to thereby increase the width of the fan, or vice versa. In otherexamples, the lower framework 88 can be operatively coupled to the upperframework 86 directly or indirectly through a control system, such asvia various motors, drive mechanisms, gearing, etc.

Moreover, a vertical distance or gap between the upper set 50 of formingbars 54 and the lower set 52 of forming bars can generally taper ordecrease from the entrance end 38 to the exit end 40 to progressivelyform the corrugated geometry of the web 22. That is, a vertical distancebetween the upper and lower sets 50, 52 can be relatively greater aboutthe entrance end 38, and relatively less about the exit end 40. As shownin FIG. 9, the vertical distances can be measured relative to a fixedreference point, such as a support surface 92 or the like. In the shownexample, the difference (L₆−L₄) between the vertical distance L₆ of theupper set 50 and L₄ of the lower set 52, at the entrance end 38, can berelatively greater than the difference (L₅−L₄) between the verticaldistance L₅ of the upper set 50 and L₄ of the lower set 52, at the exitend 40.

As shown, the lower set 52 can remain generally fixed vertically, suchthat the vertical distance L₄ can be generally equal between the supportsurface 92 and either end 38, 40. Thus, the tapering between the upperand lower sets 50, 52 can be accomplished by pivoting the upper set 50relative to the lower set 52. Either or both ends 38, 40 of the upperset 50 can be pivotally adjustable relative to the lower set 52. In theshown example, the exit end 40 remains generally vertically fixed, whilethe entrance end 38 is vertically adjustable via pivoting of the upperset 50 generally about the exit end 40. Still, it is to be understoodthat either or both of the upper and lower sets 50, 52 can remain fixedor be vertically adjustable at either end. Thus, the tapering distanceof the upper and lower sets 50, 52 permits the flute geometry to beformed from a relatively high amplitude, low frequency shape near theentrance end 38 to a relatively low amplitude, high frequency shape nearthe exit end 40, corresponding to the desired flute size.

Since the forming bars 54 are oriented at a relatively slight angle withrespect to the web, there can be little or no tension force to beovercome by the anti-friction surface feature of the outer surface 68 ofthe forming bars 54. When the web exits the first corrugating labyrinth29 of the flute forming bars 26, the web 22 is in a generally sinusoidalshape and can be substantially fully condensed in width (i.e.,approximately 50 inches in the instant example). Still, variousdownstream corrugating elements may still further condense the width ofthe web 22.

In addition, the plurality of flute forming bars 26 can be adapted to bedynamically adjustable while the web of medium material is activelymoving through the first corrugating labyrinth 29 so that a portion ofthe web 22 passing therethrough is maintained at a substantiallyconstant web tension in a cross-machine direction. In one example, thewidth of the adjustable fan can be dynamically adjusted via the upperand lower frameworks 86, 88. In addition or alternatively, the verticaldistance or gap between the upper and lower sets 50, 52 can bedynamically adjusted between the entrance end 38 to the exit end 40.

Each of the dynamic adjustments can be performed manually,semi-automatically, or even fully automatically. In one example, anautomatic control system can be provided with motors, drive mechanisms,gearing, sensors, and positional feedback on some or all of the movableadjustments. In response to signals from these sensor(s), the automaticcontrol system can utilize an open or closed feedback control loop asknown in the art to regulate the operation of the apparatus 20. It isrecognized that an iterative process of trial and error may be desirableto discover optimal adjustment values. In another example, a feedforwardcontrol loop could even be used so the control system can anticipatechanges in incoming medium material and make appropriate corrections. Inanother example, the control system can be interconnected with apressure transducer of one of the guide roll 24 or forming bars 54 orelsewhere to dynamically determine web tension. Such a fully automaticcontrol system can reduce, such as minimize changeover time betweenproducts having different web widths and/or desired corrugated geometry.

Moving downstream and turning to FIGS. 1-2 and 11, a pair of corrugatingrollers 28, 30 define a second corrugating labyrinth 31. Morespecifically, the pair of corrugating rollers 28, 30 cooperate todefine, at a nip therebetween, the second corrugating labyrinth 31between respective and interlocking pluralities of corrugating teeth 94provided on the corrugating rollers 28, 30. The pluralities ofcorrugating teeth 94 are arranged cylindrically along the longitudinallength of each of the rollers 28, 30 so as to longitudinally corrugatethe web 22 passing through the second labyrinth 31. The interlockingpluralities of corrugating teeth 94 receive an intermediate flutegeometry 96 (i.e., such as the output of the first or third corrugatinglabyrinths), and are effective to longitudinally corrugate, to asubstantially final flute geometry 98, the web 22 of medium materialthat is drawn through the nip on rotation of the corrugating rollers 28,30. That is, as shown, the second corrugating labyrinth 31 can be thefinal structure for longitudinally corrugating the web 22 to a final,desired flute geometry.

The corrugating rollers 28, 30 are mounted adjacently and cooperate witheach other, such that the web 22 passes through the nip and iscompressed therebetween. Both the rollers 28, 30 are journaled forrotation on respective substantially parallel axes, and together theydefine a substantially serpentine or sinusoidal pathway or corrugatinglabyrinth 31 at the nip between them. For example, as with the firstcorrugating labyrinth 29, the teeth 94 of the rollers 28, 30 can beinterdigitated to define the second corrugating labyrinth 31. That is,the second corrugating labyrinth 31 is produced by a first set ofcylindrically arranged corrugating teeth 94 disposed along thelongitudinal length of one roller 28 that are received within thevalleys defined between a second set of cylindrically arrangedcorrugating teeth (not shown) disposed along the longitudinal length ofthe other roller 30, and vice versa. Both sets of teeth 94 are providedso that individual teeth span the full length of the respective rolls28, 30, or at least the width of the web 22 that traverses the secondcorrugating labyrinth 31 therebetween, so that full-width corrugationscan be produced in that web 22 as the teeth 94 interlock with oneanother at the nip as the rolls rotate.

The corrugating rollers 28, 30 are rotated in opposite angulardirections such that the web of medium material 22 is drawn through thenip, and is forced to negotiate the second corrugating labyrinth 31defined between the opposing and interlocking sets of corrugating teeth94. On exiting the nip (and corrugating labyrinth 31), as will beunderstood by those of ordinary skill in the art the medium material 22has a corrugated form in a substantially final geometry; i.e. asubstantially serpentine longitudinal cross-section having opposingflute peaks and valleys on opposite sides or faces of the mediummaterial 22. Additionally, precise downstream tension control also canbe selected by adjusting the radial velocity (and correspondingly thesurface linear velocity) of the corrugating rollers 28, 30.

The apparatus 20 can further include additional structure. Turning nowto FIGS. 1-2 and 12-13, a fixed forming device 100 can be disposedbetween the plurality of flute forming bars 26 and the pair ofcorrugating rollers 28, 30. The fixed forming device 100 can define athird corrugating labyrinth 106 effective to longitudinally corrugate,to a near-final geometry, the web 22 of medium material that is drawntherethrough. The elements of the fixed forming device 100 have a widthW and remain generally fixed, such that the width W is generally notadjustable. Thus, there may be little, such as zero, transverse movementof the web 22 passing through the fixed forming device 100. Instead, thefinal width of the web 22 can remain generally constant before and afterthe fixed forming device 100, while the height of the flutes is furtherreduced towards a final flute geometry. A vertical height between theelements can be adjustable, or may also be non-adjustable. Because theelements of the fixed forming device 100 can be non-adjustable,different sets of elements may be removed and replaced for each desiredweb width and/or final desired corrugated flute geometry. In othercases, the fixed forming device 100 may not be used, such as where adesired web with exceeds the maximum width W of the device 100. Where afixed forming device is used 100, the web travel pathway for the mediummaterial can thereby follow a path around a portion of an outercircumferential surface of the guide roll, through the first corrugatinglabyrinth, through the third corrugating labyrinth, and finally throughthe second corrugating labyrinth.

Thus, unlike the segmented forming device, which has an adjustableforming angle to accommodate different flute take up ratios, the fixedforming device 100 can have a fixed flute forming geometry. Toaccommodate various flute sizes, the fixed forming device 100 can besuitably replaced, along with the downstream corrugating rolls 28, 30.The fixed flute forming device 100 can include two machined shapes thathave the large sinusoidal pattern at the entry end, and the final flutepattern at the exit end. The two machined shapes are generally similar,and are positioned above and below the paperboard web.

More specifically, the fixed forming device 100 can include an upper die102 disposed above the web 22 of medium material and a lower die 104disposed below the web 22 of medium material. The upper and lower dies102, 104 can each include fixed flute-forming teeth 108 that areinterdigitated so as to define the third corrugating labyrinth 106. Thatis, a generally rounded surface portion of adjacent teeth 108 of theupper and lower dies 102, 104 can be interlocked or intermeshed todefine the third corrugating labyrinth 106, extending along thetransverse width W of the fixed forming device 100. In effect, thepaperboard web 22 passing through the third labyrinth 106 willalternatively pass over and under adjacent ones of the teeth 108 to formthe flutes to a near-final geometry that can be further refineddownstream by the rollers 28, 30.

The surface of the upper and lower dies 102, 104 can include ananti-friction surface feature to thereby reduce the frictional forces onthe web 22 as it is passing through the third corrugating labyrinth 106.In one example, a portion of the upper and lower dies 102, 104 caninclude zero-contact structure being operable to support said web ofmedium material 22 at a variable height thereabove on a cushion of airthat is emitted through openings 110 provided over and through an outersurface 112 of the portion of the upper and lower dies 102, 104. Aplurality of openings 110 can be arranged variously thereon that canextend partially or completely along the width W of a respective upperand lower die 102, 104.

The upper and lower dies 102, 104 can be zero-contact surfaces beingoperable to support the web of medium material at a variable heightabove their surface 112 on a cushion of fluid (i.e., air or steam) thatis emitted through the openings 110. The air cushion provides airgreasing (i.e., lubrication) that can reduce, such as eliminate, slidingfrictional contact between the web 22 and the teeth 108. The pressurizedfluid, such as air, can delivered to one or more openings 114 sealinglycoupled to a portion of the upper and lower dies 102, 104. The openings114 can be directly or indirectly in fluid communication with theopenings 110, such as via an open manifold 116 disposed within aninterior of the upper and lower dies 102, 104. Again, “zero-contact” isnot meant to imply there can never be any contact (i.e. literally “zero”contact) between the zero-contact surface and the web, such as mayoccur, for example, due to transient or momentary fluctuations in meanweb tension.

In addition or alternatively, the anti-friction surface feature of thesurface 112 of the upper and lower dies 102, 104 can include variousother structure. In one example, surface portion 112 can be polished orelectro polished in order reduce the frictional forces on the paper asit is passing through the third corrugating labyrinth 106. In anotherexample, the surface portion 112 can be coated with a release orantifriction coating such as Teflon or similar in order reduce thefrictional forces. In still another example, the surface portion 112 canbe treated to create a hard surface coating such as provided by blackoxide conversion coating, anodizing, flame spraying, depositioncoatings, ceramic coating, chrome plating, or other similar surfacetreatments in order reduce the frictional forces.

The two patterns of the fixed flute forming device 100 can be blendedtogether (e.g., lofted) so that as the paperboard web passes between theupper and lower dies 102, 104 the sinusoidal shape transitions graduallycorresponding to the desired flute size. Since the transition is gradualand the forces applied to the web are generally parallel to the tensionforce of the paperboard web, there is little or no damage to the web.More specifically, a vertical distance or gap between the upper andlower dies 102, 104 can generally taper or decrease from an entrance end118 to an exit end 120 to progressively form the corrugated geometry ofthe web 22. That is, a vertical distance between the upper and lowerdies 102, 104 can be relatively greater about the entrance end 118, andrelatively less about the exit end 120. The tapering can be accomplishedby a ramped geometry 122 on either or both of the upper and lower dies102, 104. Still, it is to be understood that either or both of the upperand lower dies 102, 104 can remain fixed or even be verticallyadjustable. Thus, the tapering distance of the upper and lower dies 102,104 permits the flute geometry to be formed from a relatively highamplitude, low frequency shape near the entrance end 118 to a relativelylow amplitude, high frequency shape near the exit end 120, correspondingto the desired flute size.

The web exits the fixed forming device 100 at a near net shape so thatas it passes through the downstream corrugating rolls 28, 30, there arelittle or no stretching forces or tension spikes applied to the web bythe corrugating rolls 28, 30. As discussed above, the downstreamcorrugating rolls 28, 30 can each have a fluted geometry similar to thatof the fixed forming device 100 for maintaining, or even furtherrefining, the final flute shape. As a result, this process cansignificantly reduce the strength reduction undergone by the paperboardweb in comparison to a conventional process, which can see tensionspikes as high as 400% of running tension.

Moving downstream from the final corrugating rollers 28, 30 and turningnow to FIGS. 1-2 and 14-16, the web 22 of material can be furtherprocessed in various manners. In one example, a final corrugating roll130 can have a similar fluted geometry as the corrugating rollers 28,30, while a single-face roller 132, such as a pressure roll, can be usedto apply a face sheet 134 to the corrugated webbing 22 to form asingle-faced corrugated board 136. In addition or alternatively, one ormore further rollers (not shown) can apply other face sheets (notshown), such as to form a double-faced corrugated board (not shown).Alternatively, the corrugated web 22 alone can be stored or otherwiseprocessed.

The single-faced corrugated board 136 produced by the apparatus 20 canbe stored or otherwise further utilized in the manufacturing process. Inaddition or alternatively, the single-faced corrugated board 136 can becontinuously formed into a double/triple/quadruple, etc. wall design toincrease strength. For example, as shown in the schematic view of FIG.14, a first single-faced sheet 136A can be produced by a first apparatus140 (i.e., similar to the apparatus 20) while a second single-facedsheet 136B can be produced by a second apparatus 142 (i.e., also similarto the apparatus 20). Thus, each of the first and second apparatuses140, 142 can each produce similar linearly corrugated board, and mayeven be vertically arranged as shown. It is to be understood that FIG.14 is illustrated schematically, and as such the single-faced sheets136A, 136B are illustrated in a manner to demonstrate the conceptsdiscussed herein. In actual operation, the flutes of the single-facedsheets 136A, 136B would extend longitudinally from the machines 140, 142(i.e., in the machine direction). The first and second single-facedsheets 136A, 136B produced thereby can be coupled together in variousmanners for form various double wall designs. Vertical arrangement oftwo apparatuses 140, 142 can facilitate forming either of the panels150, 160 discussed below because such an arrangement can provideincreased registration accuracy between the single-faced sheets 136A,136B. While single-faced sheets are discussed, it is to be understoodthat various other styles can be used (i.e., double/triple faced sheets)to form various double/triple/quadruple, etc. wall designs.

In one example, as schematically shown in FIG. 15, the first and secondsingle-faced sheets 136A, 136B produced thereby can be coupled togetherto continuously form a single multi-layer corrugated panel 150, with thetwo single-faced sheets 136A, 136B being bonded together at the flutetips. That is, the flutes 144 of the first single-faced sheet 136A canbe bonded directly to the flutes 146 of the second single-faced sheet136B, at the flute tips, by various glues/adhesives 148. Thus, aflute-to-flute bond (e.g., an “X” flute) that can eliminate an interiordouble wall.

In another example, as schematically shown in FIG. 16, the first andsecond single-faced sheets 136A, 136B produced thereby can be coupledtogether to continuously form a single multi-layer corrugated panel 160,with the two single-faced sheets 136A, 136B being arranged at an anglerelative to each other. For example, in the shown example, the twosingle-faced sheets 136A, 136B are arranged generally perpendicularrelative to each other (i.e., flutes 144 are generally perpendicular toflutes 146), though various other angles can also be used. An interiorwall 162 can be disposed between the two single-faced sheets 136A, 136Bby various glues/adhesives. Thus, a cross flute, double wall design 160can be formed to increase strength. That is, each flute layer can beoriented at an angle relative to adjacent layers to provide strengthacross multiple force vectors.

Returning briefly to FIG. 14, various structures can be used to createthe structures of FIGS. 15-16. For example, one or more interiorelements 170 can apply adhesive to the flute tips to form theflute-to-flute panel 150. In another example, the interior element 170can apply the interior layer 162 and/or adhesives to form thecross-flute panel 160. In addition or alternatively, various rollers 172or the like can guide the two single-faced sheets 136A, 136B, and/or caneven be utilized as pressure rolls to apply one of the sheets 136A tothe other sheet 136B. Moreover, it is to be understood that theindividual single-faced sheets 136A, 136B need not be formed using thesame process or apparatus, and that various types of sheets can bebonded together.

The corrugation apparatus 20 and process of the instant application canprovide some highly beneficial results, including but not limited to thefollowing: (1) The process significantly reduces the strength reductionundergone by the paperboard web in comparison to a conventional process,which can see tension spikes as high as 400% of running tension; (2)Double wall strength can be equal to or greater than current triple wallor triple wall made with vastly reduced basis weight; (3) Triple wallcan be equal to or greater than current 4-wall or 4-wall made withvastly reduced basis weight; (4) Laminated 4- or 5-wall board with twocross flute sections would be very strong or could be made with vastlyreduced basis weight; (5) Increased burst strength even at lower basisweights due to the liner applicator applying a continuous film to theliners; and (6) The possibility to add moisture resistance to the linerssince the adhesive can be applied as a continuous film.

Various other corrugation techniques can also be used with theaforedescribed linear fluting apparatus 20 and process to furtherincrease the strength of the corrugated board. For example, thecorrugated board can be formed with a cold adhesive (e.g., at or nearroom temperature) such that little or no drying energy can be required.In addition or alternatively, the cold adhesive can be applied as arelatively thin film that bonds to the corrugation by pressure pulses asit exits the single facer.

It is to be understood that the names given to specific stages of acorrugating apparatus 20 herein are intended merely for convenience andease of reference for the reader, so he/she can more easily follow thepresent description and the associate drawings. It is in no way intendedthat each of these stages or ‘machines’ must be a single, discreet orunitary machine or device, or that specific elements need to be providedtogether or in close association with the other elements describedherein with respect to a particular stage or ‘machine.’ It iscontemplated that various elements of the disclosed corrugatingapparatus 20 can be rearranged, or located in association with the sameor different elements as herein described.

The invention has been described with reference to the exampleembodiments described above. Modifications and alterations will occur toothers upon a reading and understanding of this specification. Examplesembodiments incorporating one or more aspects of the invention areintended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar asthey come within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for producing a longitudinallycorrugated product, including: an upper set of flute forming bars and alower set of flute forming bars, said upper and lower sets of fluteforming bars each comprising respective pluralities of flute formingbars oriented generally along a machine direction of said apparatus,said upper and lower sets of flute forming bars being interdigitated todefine a first corrugating labyrinth effective to longitudinallycorrugate a web of medium material that is drawn through said firstcorrugating labyrinth along a web-travel pathway in the machinedirection, and a guide roll for guiding the web of medium material intosaid first corrugating labyrinth, wherein at least a portion of theguide roll is adapted to be arranged at an angle relative to anotherportion of the guide roll such that a path length of an edge portion ofthe web is shortened relative to a path length of a center portion ofthe web after leaving the guide roll, and wherein ones of said fluteforming bars approach a centerline of said web-travel pathway along themachine direction when viewed from above said pathway, wherein as theweb of medium material is actively moving through said first corrugatinglabyrinth a degree of interdigitation between said upper and lower setsof flute forming bars is uniformly adjustable adjacent an exit end ofsaid first corrugating labyrinth into a range of fixed relativepositions to thereby define respective predetermined lateral take-upwidths for the web of medium material.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the flute forming bars are pivotally coupled, at an exit endthereof, to a support frame such that the flute forming bars are movablelaterally, at an entrance end thereof, to individually adjust an angleof each of the flute forming bars relative to said centerline to therebyform a fan of adjustable width.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theupper and lower sets of flute forming bars become progressively moreinterdigitated in the machine direction along partial lengths thereof.4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a portion of the plurality of fluteforming bars include a surface adapted to guide a web of mediummaterial, the surface including an anti-friction surface feature tothereby reduce frictional forces on the web as the web is passingthrough the first corrugating labyrinth.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4,wherein portions of the flute forming bars are zero-contact barsoperable to support a web of medium material traveling through saidfirst corrugating labyrinth at a variable height above said bars on acushion of air that is emitted through openings provided in outersurfaces thereof.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guide rollincludes at least a first segment defining a first longitudinal axiscoupled to an end of a second segment defining a second longitudinalaxis, at least one of the first and second segments being movablerelative to the other of the first and second segments such that thefirst axis is oriented at an angle relative to the second axis.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 6, wherein each of the first and second segments aremovable relative to each other, the first axis being pivotable to afirst angle relative to the centerline of the web and the second axisbeing pivotable to a second angle substantially equal and opposite thefirst angle.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guide roll is azero-contact roll being operable to support the web of medium materialat a variable height above an outer circumferential surface of the guideroll on a cushion of air that is emitted through openings provided overand through the outer circumferential surface of the guide roll.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 1, further including a pair of corrugating rollersdisposed downstream of said first corrugating labyrinth along saidweb-travel pathway in the machine direction, said pair of corrugatingrollers cooperating to define, at a nip therebetween, a secondcorrugating labyrinth between respective and interlocking pluralities ofcircumferential corrugating teeth provided on the corrugating rollers,wherein said interlocking pluralities of corrugating teeth are effectiveto longitudinally corrugate, to a substantially final geometry, a web ofmedium material that is drawn through said nip on rotation of thecorrugating rollers.
 10. An apparatus for producing a longitudinallycorrugated product, including a guide roll, a first set of flute formingbars and a second, opposing set of flute forming bars, said first andsecond sets of flute forming bars together defining a first corrugatinglabyrinth effective to introduce longitudinal corrugations in a web ofmedium material traveling therethrough along a web travel pathway in amachine direction, said guide roll being adapted to guide the web ofmedium material into said first corrugating labyrinth, wherein at leasta portion of the guide roll is adapted to be arranged at an anglerelative to another portion of the guide roll such that a path length ofan edge portion of the web is shortened relative to a path length of acenter portion of the web after leaving the guide roll, and wherein apair of adjacent flute forming bars in said first set thereof approachone another along said web-travel pathway in the machine direction,wherein as the web of medium material is actively moving through saidfirst corrugating labyrinth a degree of interdigitation between saidfirst and second sets of flute forming bars is uniformly adjustableadjacent an exit end of said first corrugating labyrinth into a range offixed relative positions to thereby define respective predeterminedlateral take-up widths for the web of medium material.
 11. The apparatusof claim 10, said first and second sets of flute forming bars beinginterdigitated along partial lengths thereof so as to define the firstcorrugating labyrinth.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the firstand second sets of flute forming bars become progressively moreinterdigitated in the machine direction along said partial lengthsthereof.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, said flute forming barscomprising openings in respective surfaces thereof configured to emit afluid for supporting a web traveling through said first corrugatinglabyrinth at a distance spaced from said surfaces.
 14. The apparatus ofclaim 10, further comprising a fixed forming device defining a secondcorrugating labyrinth located downstream from said first corrugatinglabyrinth along said web-travel pathway in the machine direction, saidsecond corrugating labyrinth being configured to receive the web ofmedium material into which have been introduced first longitudinalcorrugations by said first corrugating labyrinth, and to introducetherein second longitudinal corrugations having a higher frequency thansaid first corrugations measured in a lateral direction of said web. 15.The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the fixed forming device includes anupper die and a lower die, the upper and lower dies each including fixedflute-forming teeth that are interdigitated so as to define the secondcorrugating labyrinth.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein at leastone of the upper and lower dies includes a surface having ananti-friction surface feature to thereby reduce the frictional forces onthe web as the web is passing through the second corrugating labyrinth.17. The apparatus of claim 10, each of said flute forming bars beinglinear when viewed from above.
 18. The apparatus of claim 10, whereinthe guide roll includes at least a first segment defining a firstlongitudinal axis coupled to an end of a second segment defining asecond longitudinal axis, at least one of the first and second segmentsbeing movable relative to the other of the first and second segmentssuch that the first axis is oriented at an angle relative to the secondaxis.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein each of the first andsecond segments are movable relative to each other, the first axis beingpivotable to a first angle relative to a centerline of the web and thesecond axis being pivotable to a second angle substantially equal andopposite the first angle.
 20. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein theguide roll is a zero-contact roll being operable to support the web ofmedium material at a variable height above an outer circumferentialsurface of the guide roll on a cushion of air that is emitted throughopenings provided over and through the outer circumferential surface ofthe guide roll.
 21. The apparatus of claim 10, said flute forming barscomprising openings in respective surfaces thereof configured to emit afluid for supporting a web traveling through said first corrugatinglabyrinth at a distance spaced from said surfaces.
 22. An apparatus forproducing a longitudinally corrugated product, including a first set offlute forming bars and a second, opposing set of flute forming bars,said first and second sets of flute forming bars being interdigitatedalong at least partial lengths thereof to define a first corrugatinglabyrinth effective to introduce longitudinal corrugations in a web ofmedium material traveling therethrough along a web travel pathway in amachine direction, wherein as the web of medium material is activelymoving through said first corrugating labyrinth a degree ofinterdigitation between said first and second sets of flute forming barsis uniformly adjustable adjacent an exit end of said first corrugatinglabyrinth into a range of fixed relative positions to thereby definerespective predetermined lateral take-up widths for the web of mediummaterial.
 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first and secondsets of flute forming bars become progressively more interdigitated inthe machine direction along said at least partial lengths thereof. 24.The apparatus of claim 23, said flute forming bars comprising openingsin respective surfaces thereof configured to emit a fluid for supportinga web traveling through said first corrugating labyrinth at a distancespaced from said surfaces.
 25. The apparatus of claim 22, furthercomprising a second corrugating labyrinth located downstream from saidfirst corrugating labyrinth along said web-travel pathway in the machinedirection, said second corrugating labyrinth being configured to receivea web of medium material into which have been introduced firstlongitudinal corrugations by said first corrugating labyrinth, and tointroduce therein second longitudinal corrugations having a higherfrequency than said first corrugations measured in a lateral directionof said web.
 26. The apparatus of claim 22, said flute forming barscomprising openings in respective surfaces thereof configured to emit afluid for supporting a web traveling through said first corrugatinglabyrinth on a fluid cushion at a distance spaced from said surfaces,and a pressure transducer configured to detect a pressure of the fluidcushion.